Alcachofa de Tudela, Cynara scolymus L., y suelo de cultivo analizados por Fluorescencia de Rayos X (FRX)

En este trabajo presentamos la composición elemental analizada por Fluorescencia de Rayos X (FRX): a) de la planta entera de alcachofa de Tudela en cada uno de los estadíos biológicamente significativos del ciclo agrícola: zuecas, planta tomada, planta en primera brotación, planta en estadío de roseta, planta en segunda brotación, planta en plena producción y zuecas obtenidas de la planta; b) de las inflorescencias de la alcachofa de Tudela en tres momentos distintos de su recolección; c) de las inflorescencias de otras tres variedades de alcachofa -INIA-D, “in vitro” y crisantem- cultivadas en Navarra; y d) del suelo de cultivo muestreado secuencialmente a lo largo del ciclo agrícola. La alcachofa se ha cultivado al aire libre en dos parcelas situadas en la Ribera Tudelana, Cadreita y Tudela. Tanto el suelo, el clima como las técnicas culturales son los idóneos aconsejados por el Instituto Técnico y de Gestión Agrícola y empleados desde antiguo por los agricultores de la zona. Los análisis elementales se han realizado en los Servicios Científico-Técnicos de la Universidad de Barcelona. Se han analizado 22 muestras de planta y 24 muestras de suelo. En planta se han obtenido 154 datos de concentraciones para 7 elementos -Na, Mg, P, S, Cl, K y Ca-; en suelo, 702 datos de concentraciones para 27 elements -Na, Mg, Al, Si, P, K, Ca, Ti, V, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Sn, Ba, Ce, W, Pb y Th -

La Història de les Mentalitats : una polèmica oberta

Com a presentació de la revista MANUSCRITS a la Universitat de Barcelona, s'organitzà el proppassat 5 de maig i a la Facultat de Geografia i Història, un debat-taula rodona sobre el tema "La història de les mentalitats: una polemica oberta". Hi varen participar : Josep Fontana, Ricardo Garcla Cárcel, Carlos Martínez Shaw, Josep Mª Salrach i Lluís Roura. La transcripció d'aquest debat és el que us oferim

Genetic Control of Canine Leishmaniasis: Genome-Wide Association Study and Genomic Selection Analysis

Background: the current disease model for leishmaniasis suggests that only a proportion of infected individuals develop clinical disease, while others are asymptomatically infected due to immune control of infection. The factors that determine whether individuals progress to clinical disease following Leishmania infection are unclear, although previous studies suggest a role for host genetics. Our hypothesis was that canine leishmaniasis is a complex disease with multiple loci responsible for the progression of the disease from Leishmania infection. Methodology/Principal Findings: genome-wide association and genomic selection approaches were applied to a population-based case-control dataset of 219 dogs from a single breed (Boxer) genotyped for ~170,000 SNPs. Firstly, we aimed to identify individual disease loci; secondly, we quantified the genetic component of the observed phenotypic variance; and thirdly, we tested whether genome-wide SNP data could accurately predict the disease. Conclusions/Significance: we estimated that a substantial proportion of the genome is affecting the trait and that its heritability could be as high as 60%. Using the genome-wide association approach, the strongest associations were on chromosomes 1, 4 and 20, although none of these were statistically significant at a genome-wide level and after correcting for genetic stratification and lifestyle. Amongst these associations, chromosome 4: 61.2-76.9 Mb maps to a locus that has previously been associated with host susceptibility to human and murine leishmaniasis, and genomic selection estimated markers in this region to have the greatest effect on the phenotype. We therefore propose these regions as candidates for replication studies. An important finding of this study was the significant predictive value from using the genomic information. We found that the phenotype could be predicted with an accuracy of ~0.29 in new samples and that the affection status was correctly predicted in 60% of dogs, significantly higher than expected by chance, and with satisfactory sensitivity-specificity values (AUC = 0.63)

Threat management priorities for conserving Antarctic biodiversity

Antarctic terrestrial biodiversity faces multiple threats, from invasive species to climate change. Yet no large-scale assessments of threat management strategies exist. Applying a structured participatory approach, we demonstrate that existing conservation efforts are insufficient in a changing world, estimating that 65% (at best 37%, at worst 97%) of native terrestrial taxa and land-associated seabirds are likely to decline by 2100 under current trajectories. Emperor penguins are identified as the most vulnerable taxon, followed by other seabirds and dry soil nematodes. We find that implementing 10 key threat management strategies in parallel, at an estimated present-day equivalent annual cost of US$23 million, could benefit up to 84% of Antarctic taxa. Climate change is identified as the most pervasive threat to Antarctic biodiversity and influencing global policy to effectively limit climate change is the most beneficial conservation strategy. However, minimising impacts of human activities and improved planning and management of new infrastructure projects are cost-effective and will help to minimise regional threats. Simultaneous global and regional efforts are critical to secure Antarctic biodiversity for future generations

Treatment with tocilizumab or corticosteroids for COVID-19 patients with hyperinflammatory state: a multicentre cohort study (SAM-COVID-19)

Objectives: The objective of this study was to estimate the association between tocilizumab or corticosteroids and the risk of intubation or death in patients with coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) with a hyperinflammatory state according to clinical and laboratory parameters. Methods: A cohort study was performed in 60 Spanish hospitals including 778 patients with COVID-19 and clinical and laboratory data indicative of a hyperinflammatory state. Treatment was mainly with tocilizumab, an intermediate-high dose of corticosteroids (IHDC), a pulse dose of corticosteroids (PDC), combination therapy, or no treatment. Primary outcome was intubation or death; follow-up was 21 days. Propensity score-adjusted estimations using Cox regression (logistic regression if needed) were calculated. Propensity scores were used as confounders, matching variables and for the inverse probability of treatment weights (IPTWs). Results: In all, 88, 117, 78 and 151 patients treated with tocilizumab, IHDC, PDC, and combination therapy, respectively, were compared with 344 untreated patients. The primary endpoint occurred in 10 (11.4%), 27 (23.1%), 12 (15.4%), 40 (25.6%) and 69 (21.1%), respectively. The IPTW-based hazard ratios (odds ratio for combination therapy) for the primary endpoint were 0.32 (95%CI 0.22-0.47; p < 0.001) for tocilizumab, 0.82 (0.71-1.30; p 0.82) for IHDC, 0.61 (0.43-0.86; p 0.006) for PDC, and 1.17 (0.86-1.58; p 0.30) for combination therapy. Other applications of the propensity score provided similar results, but were not significant for PDC. Tocilizumab was also associated with lower hazard of death alone in IPTW analysis (0.07; 0.02-0.17; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Tocilizumab might be useful in COVID-19 patients with a hyperinflammatory state and should be prioritized for randomized trials in this situatio

Being there: examining the behaviour of Antarctic tourists through their blogs

Most visitors to Antarctica today are commercial tourists. Over 150 000 tourists visited Antarctica between 2007 and 2010, making up more than 700 000 person/landings. Despite the scale of tourism in Antarctica, knowledge about its environmental impacts is generally inconclusive, and monitoring is limited. This article examines tourist behaviour regarding the environment using information available on travel weblogs (blogs) posted by tourists on the Internet. Fifty blogs describing Antarctic travel were analysed, mostly as part of organized tourism cruises, during the four Antarctic summer seasons between 2007 and 2010, both qualitatively and quantitatively. The blogs described the activities of 90 people who had visited Deception Island as part of their itinerary and who, overall, had undertaken at least 190 person/landings in Antarctica. Blog analysis highlighted the importance of wildlife as a tourist attraction. In the blogs it was apparent that tourist-wildlife interactions result in a range of behaviours from both individual tourists and animals. Tourism results in cultural traces and other environmental consequences, although some of these would not be judged as "impacts" under the current practice of implementing the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty. Blogs showed many more instances of compliance than of noncompliance with environmental regulations. Tourist blogs illustrate the behavioural processes by which environmental impacts from tourism could occur, which are repeated through thousands of person-landings and other activities in Antarctica every season. Precautionary action may be a practical alternative to manage tourism at some sites until it is clearer how this activity affects the environment

REALISING STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT IN ANTARCTICA

This paper discusses high-level environmental policy objectives under the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS), and their relation to Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). It reviews the need for SEA in Antarctica; discusses existing ATS strategic processes and the impediments to achieving the high-level environmental policy objectives agreed within the ATS, and suggests ways to improve strategic consideration of environmental issues. Whilst the concept of a strategic approach is already accepted in principle within the ATS, there remain difficulties in realising this. These include, inter alia, limitations in the established processes addressing environmental issues (particularly cumulative impacts), and ongoing tensions between the nominally agreed international objectives and national interests (including issues around unresolved territorial sovereignty claims) in practice. The article contends that given growing pressures on the Antarctic environment, high-level environmental policy objectives cannot be achieved through accumulated reactive ad hoc measures, or by industry self-regulation, but requires a systematic approach to strategic environmental considerations.Antarctica, Antarctic Treaty System, environmental impact assessment, strategic environmental assessment, Protocol of Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (Madrid Protocol)

Alcachofa de Tudela, Cynara scolymus L., y suelo de cultivo analizados por Fluorescencia de Rayos X (FRX)

En este trabajo presentamos la composición elemental analizada por Fluorescencia de Rayos X (FRX): a) de la planta entera de alcachofa de Tudela en cada uno de los estadíos biológicamente significativos del ciclo agrícola: zuecas, planta tomada, planta en primera brotación, planta en estadío de roseta, planta en segunda brotación, planta en plena producción y zuecas obtenidas de la planta; b) de las inflorescencias de la alcachofa de Tudela en tres momentos distintos de su recolección; c) de las inflorescencias de otras tres variedades de alcachofa -INIA-D, “in vitro” y crisantem- cultivadas en Navarra; y d) del suelo de cultivo muestreado secuencialmente a lo largo del ciclo agrícola. La alcachofa se ha cultivado al aire libre en dos parcelas situadas en la Ribera Tudelana, Cadreita y Tudela. Tanto el suelo, el clima como las técnicas culturales son los idóneos aconsejados por el Instituto Técnico y de Gestión Agrícola y empleados desde antiguo por los agricultores de la zona. Los análisis elementales se han realizado en los Servicios Científico-Técnicos de la Universidad de Barcelona. Se han analizado 22 muestras de planta y 24 muestras de suelo. En planta se han obtenido 154 datos de concentraciones para 7 elementos -Na, Mg, P, S, Cl, K y Ca-; en suelo, 702 datos de concentraciones para 27 elements -Na, Mg, Al, Si, P, K, Ca, Ti, V, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Sn, Ba, Ce, W, Pb y Th -

La Història de les Mentalitats : una polèmica oberta

Com a presentació de la revista MANUSCRITS a la Universitat de Barcelona, s'organitzà el proppassat 5 de maig i a la Facultat de Geografia i Història, un debat-taula rodona sobre el tema "La història de les mentalitats: una polemica oberta". Hi varen participar : Josep Fontana, Ricardo Garcla Cárcel, Carlos Martínez Shaw, Josep Mª Salrach i Lluís Roura. La transcripció d'aquest debat és el que us oferim

Light conditions and heterogeneity in illumination affect growth and survival of Octopus vulgaris paralarvae reared in the hatchery

In order to succeed in common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) aquaculture, it is necessary to overcome the massive paralarval mortalities, which are likely related to zootechnical and/or nutritional aspects. Among the zootechnical aspects, the effect of light could be vital for the development of paralarvae given their sophisticated visual system. O. vulgaris paralarvae display vertical behavior in the wild, being in deeper waters during the day and close to the surface at night. For this reason, the present study traces a collection of light assays in captivity, to test ecologically-driven hypotheses on the growth and survival of octopus paralarvae. The first assay tested a factorial combination of light colors (blue vs white) and intensity (low ~13 lx (36 W/ m2 ), medium ~87 lx (151 W/m2 ) and high ~265 lx (422 W/m2 )). The results pointed to a significant negative impact of low light intensities (13 and 87 lx) on paralarval growth. The second assay was designed to contrast light colors (blue vs white), different levels of intensities (300 lx (478 W/m2 ) vs 600 lx (1077 W/m2 )) and partial coverage of the tanks using a shade mesh, named as “shadow zone” (half-covered vs non-covered tanks). In halfcovered tanks, survival was significantly improved, with the best results coming from half-covered tanks with blue light and 600 lx, but no differences in dry weight were observed. The third experiment tested a factor called “light source position” with two levels: “Control” when the light incidence angle was 0° with respect to the normal direction (i.e. perpendicular to the water surface), and “Oblique” when the light incidence angle was 60° with respect to the normal direction. In this experiment, survival significantly improved under oblique light but no differences in dry weight were detected. The last experiment was an unifactorial design combining “light source position” and “tank partial coverage” with three treatments: i) control light with uncovered tanks, ii) oblique light with uncovered tanks, iii) control light with semi-covered tanks. Oblique light with uncovered tanks was associated with a higher survival rate but without statistical significance, probably due to data variability. It can be concluded that light intensity tended to affect paralarval dry weight, whereas the existence of a shadow zone or oblique light are more related with an improvement of survival rates